Agitating device for vacuum-cleaner nozzles.



J. B. KIRBY.

AGHAH-NG DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLES.

- APPLICATION FILED FEB-17.1915.

1,265,790, Patented May14,19 18.

:' T err JAMES B. KIRBY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AGITATING DEVICE FOR VACUUM-CLEANER NOZZLE S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

v Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed February 17, 1915. Serial No. 8,906.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that 1, JAMES B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Agitating Devices for Vacuum-Cleaner Nozzles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to suction cleaners and has for itsobject the provision of a device of this character which will clean rugs, carpets, and other floor coverings, rapidly and efiiciently. -The principle of my invention consists in this, that toothed floor engaging devices, located within the inlet mouth of the apparatus, are arranged to be moved during the operation of the device so as to comb or scrape the surface operated upon, thereby loosening and pulling up and disengaging particles of lint, threads, scraps of cloth, coins, sheets of paper, and the like particles which are not readily displaced by the suction alone; according to a further refinement such teeth are made of flexible material so as not to catch upon the seams, etc., and render the apparatus ineffective and so as to prevent undue wear or abrasion of the fioor covering; also the toothed members are so sup ported as to remain in contact with the carpet or fioor covering for an appreciable time, and in addition to this combing or sweeping action to exert a beating action thereon; means are also provided for lifting these teeth from the floor periodically so that the air stream may remove adherent refuse, while the shape of the inlet mouth in which the device is located is preferably such as to permit the particles displaced by the combing action to be thrown upon a suit-.

able receiving part or ledge whence they may be swept away by the air stream. Sub sidiary objects of the invention relate to the mode of constructing, supporting, and operating the said agitating devices, all of which will more clearly appear as the description proceeds.

In the performance of my said invention I preferably employ a suction cleaner of the type comprising a hollow casing containing a generally cylindrical fan chamber provided with a rotatable fan mounted coaxially therewithin and connected directly to an electric motor supported above the fan chamber; the lower face of the fan chamber concentrically with the fan communicating with a downwardly facing laterally elongated inlet mouth, and the peripheral portion of said fan chamber communicating through a suitable outlet neck with a porous bag or receptacle adapted to retain the dust and dirt while allowing the escape of the air therethrough. However my invenion is not restricted to cleaners of this type as will be hereafter explained, notwithstanding that I have chosenthis design for purposes of explanation.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this application I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention. and in these drawings: Figure 1 represents a well known type of suction cleaner equipped with my present invention; Fig. 2 a bottom plan view showing the suction mouth of said cleaner with my improved agitating device in place therein; Fig. 3 is an 'enlargeddetail view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the bearings being shown in cross section and the central portion of the agitating device being omitted; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the agitating device removed from the cleaner, the same being viewed upwardly from a position beneath the same; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the mouth part of the cleaner shown in Fig. 1 showing diagrammatically the operation of the said agitating device; and Fig 6 is a view drawn to reduced scale and showing the use of my improved agitating device with an extension nozzle or suction tool.

Describing the parts by reference char acters 1 represents the fan chamber of a suction cleaner, the same being generally cylindrical in efiect, and having therein a rotatable fan 2 driven by a motor 3 contained in a suitable casing 4 located beyond one of the flat faces 5 of this fan chamber. The other flat face 6 of the fan chamber is provided with a circular opening 7 opposite the center of this fan and communicating with the suction nozzle represented generally at 8, while the periphery of the fan chamber is formed at one side with the tangential outlet connection 9 to which is attached a suitable dust bag 10. Said collection nozzle comprises a front wall 12 merging at its upper end with the Wall of the fan chamber as shown in Fig. 1, and

extending laterally for a considerable distance as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, terminatrng at its lower end in a substantially straight jaw 13. The opposite wall of this nozzle consists of a substantially, or nearly flat horiz ontal plate 1-; merging at its forward end with a downwardly and forwardly inclined pdftion which terminates in the rounded jaw 16, spaced from par llel to the jaw 13. At their ends the plates 12 and 1 iare connected together b webs or end walls 1'? which converge rearwardly as shown in Fig. 2 so as to merge with the sides of the opening 7 while the rearward portion of the plate l l merges with the upwardly curved proach 18 which leads to the rearward ea, 2 of said opening. The downwardly facing aperture defined by the jaws 13 and 16 l have herein termed the inlet mouth and same is supported above and adjacent to floor by means of the carrying rollers pivoted at 21 upon an axis parallel wi h said mouth, cooperating with the adjusting roller 2:2 attached to the rearward part the machine. The axis 21 of the WhBGii lies between the center of gravity of e machine the inlet mouth, so that up and down movement of the roller by means of the adjusting levices 23 will serve to raise and lower this month.

Within this suction nozzle and above and parallel with the inlet mouth I secure an agitatingdevice which in its preferred embodiment consists of a rotatable shaft having movably joined thereto plurality of driving vanes or blades equipped with the teeth heretofore mentioned. Prefer ably l secure adjacent to each end of this shaft a transverse fiat plate 26 formed with. a plurality of abrupt shoulders 27 equal to the number of the blades or vanes. in the present embodiment l have illustrated three such bladesor vanes though it is clear that the number might be increased within limits if desired. Each of the blades or vanes consists of a narrow elongated strip 28 of thin sheet metal curved about an axis parallel to its length so as to be slightly trough shaped as shown in Fig. 5. One of the longitudinal margins of each blade or yane is folded over into such trough as l shown at 29, and adjacent to this folded portion the blade is pivoted at each end to one of said plates 26 as illustrated iii/[5th Each of the pivots 30 is placed slightly in the rear of the adjacent shoulder 27 as shown in Fig. 5, and at each end the blade or vane is extended beyond the edge of the plate as illustrated at 31, which forms stop for the blade, limiting the inward or rearward movement by contact with the periphery of the plate (see the upper side of Fig. l and limiting the outward or forward movement by contact with theab: apt

nee s so shoulder (see the nearest blade in Fig. l.) The position of the device within the suction .nozzle is such that the concave portion of the lower blade faces the jaw 13 of the inlet mouth, which jaw is formed wlth a plurality of spaced rounded teeth 33 defining narrow slots or channels 3% through opening unduly obstructs the air stream and decreases the force of the rotation. The location of the shaft 25 is preferably such that the blades 28 lie entirely within the plane of the suction mouth, so that the cleaner can be run over floors and the like withoutthe blades coming in contact with the surface of the same.

Over the concave face of each Vane or blade l place a fiat sheet 35 of rubber or the like yielding material, and secure the same in place by crimping down thereon the folded edge 29, as shown in. Fig. 5. The rest of this flexible sheet is preferably entirely free from the vane or blade, al-' though its free end is preferably formed with a plurality of comparatively deep narrow slots defining a large number of serrations or teeth 36, and also the free extremity of each flexible tooth is bent over the edge of its blade or vane so as to form a trans versely projecting toe. In the case ofrubher or a rubber-containing fabric this shape can easily be afforded to the material by heating and curing as will be well understood the result being a permanent toe of the shape illustrated. i prefer to have this bend come intermediate of the length of these serrations or teeth as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, though this is not essential. Also the folded edges of the vanes or blades are spaced slightly from the shaft 25 so as to afford a narrow passageway therethrough which is found greatly to increase the efliciency of the device.

For mounting my improved agitating device in the suction nozzle l preferably secure in one-end web 1? a hollow threaded stud so having mounted in the cavity thereof a slidable block l1 and a compression spring 42, this block being formed with a socket or recess adapted to receive the reduced end 43 of the shaft, and the end of the stud being peened inwardly as at 4A to prevent the scape of said blocli. To the other end web attach a pointed stud 45 adapted to enter s pivot block 46 carried by the shaft. The locks lland do are preferably made of hosphor bronze since this will run with teel without the necessity of oiling and notwithstanding the dust to which they are subjected, oil being wholly impossible in aplace where so much dust will collect. This arrangement of pivots and-blocks is pecul iarly desirable in this device since it renders it impossible to insert the agitator in wrong position, though I do not confine myself thereto.

A device of this character willbe rotated rapidly by the air passing inwardly through the suction mouth, the. shape of the blades and their flexible connection to the flanges 26, causing an. unbalanced pressure to be ex-. erted which rotates the members in the direction shown by the arrows. In addition, when the machine is in operative position on a floor or carpet the air rushing thereinto through the slot 34: impinges upon the blades other fabricfioor coverings for the fabric to be lifted into the suction mouth for-a distance as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.. As a result of this action, the blades strike the 54s indlcates the hollow shank of the tool to whichfis connected the suction hose 55. 56. Y represents generally an agitating device sub-- 2 stantially as herein ,-described and claimed,

fabric a light blow, at each revolution and are themselves driven backward a slight dis tance about their axes 30 while the flexible flap 35 is sprung away from the metal blade as illustrm'od at the lower side of'the heater in Fig. 5, whereupon the continuousv rotation of the agitator drags the toes 36 along the nap of the carpet or ru after the manner of a comb or rake, thus plcking up) and dislodging any material which may e lodged thereon. At the conclusion ofthis raking or combing movement, the centrifugal force. of the rotation combined with the action of the air, throws this blade or vane to radial position again, which therefore gives a flip to the material thereon and deposits the same either on the slanting portion 15 or the fiat. plate 14 along which it is swept by the air stream. It will be noted that the upwardly curving portion of the plate lfcoincides with the lateral constriction ofthe nozzle in such a. way that the accumulated force of the air is enabled to lift heavy refuse up the slope and deliver it into the fan Qoins as large as silver quarters, pins, hairpins, but-' tons, marbles, shot, and pebbles will lie-taken up as readily as matches, ashes, l nt, ravelings, or thread, the inclmed position of the fan casing assisting in this by reason of the shorter and straighter passage into the dust" bag. The air-slots 34c afi'ord a directed blast upon the vanes, or blades which not only serves to actuate the same, but also by acting directly uponthetgarticles of dust, etc, aid in sweeping them rough the fan eham- 'nectedthereto by'a flexible hose.

her. The" rounded jaw s of the inlet mam-.11

is ordinarily submerged to some extent in the nap oft r ecarpet asshown in Fig. 5,. hus to some extent preventing the entrance of air from that direction. Also the submersion ofrthis-jaw in'the nap causes" debris lying' upon 'the carpet to pass substantially directly to theinclined portion .15 without being impeded-by an abrupt shoulder. The

association "with the toothed combing de- ,v ces of the metal, plates which partly -overlap those teeth prevents thread, and ravelings from becoming entangled in the same and aifords a smooth non-resisting surface from which the air stream will remove such refuse. p v

As heretofore explained the use of the above described agitating mechanism is not confined solely to cleaners wherein the suc tion mechanism is mounted immediatel adjacent the inlet nozzle;.it may be-emp oyed with equal facility in connection with a cleaner of the type wherein a stationary pump is employed and a movable toolcon- Such an arrangement'is indicated in Fig. 6 wherein 50 represents'the head or mouth section of the tool, the same being formed with a downwardly opening laterally elongated inlet mouth '51 defined by jaws 52 and 53, and

although in the'pres'ent embodiment I have illustrated the'forward wall of the head as formed-with apertures 57 to admit operating-air thereto instead of the slots hereinbeforesuggested. It will be understood that many additional modifications could be resorted to within the scope of my invention and within the terms of the claims hereto annexed.

- Having thus described my invention what "lclaim is: y a

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a nozzle having an elongated downwardly facing inlet mouth,

an agitating device revolubly mounted inside said nozzle and parallel with said mouth, and comprising a plurality of beating members, pivoted upon axes parallel with said mouth,'said device including vanes set in the air dpassageway whereby the device is retate 2. "In a vacuum-cleaner, a nozzle having an elongated Y downwardly facing inlet mouth, and an. agitating device revolubl mounted inside said nozzle and parallel wit said mouth, said device comprising a plurality-of'radiating blades having at their free edges a plurality'of teeth bent in the Y direction toward. which said blades revolve.

an agitating device revolubly mounted inside said nozzle and parallel with said inouai, said device comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending radiating blades, and a flexible sheet covering the rear face of each blade and formed at its outer edge teeth projecting loeyond the edge of said blade.

i. In a vacuum cleaner, a nozzlehaving an elongated downwardly facing inlet inout an agitating device revoluloly mount-ed 11 side said nozzle and parallel month, said device comprising a longitudinally extending radiation and a flexible sheet covering tlierear each blade, and formed at its outer g with teeth projecting beyond the edge at said blade, said teeth projecting in the direction of rotation of said blades.

In a vacuum cleaner, ozzle hav" elongated downwardly iac'ng inlet month, an agitating device .revolubiy mounted inside said nozzle and parallel with said inc said device comprising a plurality o tudinally extending blades, and a sheet covering the rear face of each and formed at its outer edge with tees p gecting beyond the edge oi said blade, said sheet being attached to said blade only at the edge opposite said toothed edge.

6. in a vacuum cleaner, a nozzle hav a elongated downwardly facing inlet month, an agitating device revoluhly mounted inside said nozzle and parallel with said month, said device comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending radiating blades, and a flexible sheet covering the rear face of s In blade, and formed at its outer edge teeth projecting beyond the edge said blade, said teeth'projecting in the direction of rotation oi"- said blades, and said sheet being attached to said blade only at the edge opposite said toothed edge.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a nozzle paving elongated downwardly facing inlet an agitating device 'revoluhly mon said nozzle and parallel with sea and comprising a plurality cit longitudinally extending vanes each of which isspaced from the axis of said device to provide passageway, the cleaner nozzle he formed with apertures in line with the vanes one side oi said axis. i

8. ln a vacuum cleaner, a nozzle having elongated downwardly lacing inlet niou a, an agitating device revoluhly mounted said nozzle and parallel with said mouth, and comprising pluralityof blades pivoted upon axes parallel to said mouth and at their free edges a plurality of teeth he in the direction toward which said hlades revolve.

9; In a vacuum cleaner, a nozzle having elongated downwardly facing inlet mouth, an agitating d vice revel insi c said T n Ls nozzle and para said device comprising wore: en aging jaws,

tudinally extending p voted members, and a flexible sheetsecurcd to each of said menu- 7 ers and having its outer edge formed with projecting teeth,

10 A vacuum cleaner having a nozzle formed with an elongated inlet mouth surrounded by work-engaging jaws, and an agitating device pivoted in said nozzle parallel with said mouth, said device comprising a olurality of flexible members having teeth t ting transversely of the pivot axis and l after heing presented to the wor cc to be raised and subjected to the st ea c whereby adherent matter is revacuum cleaner, the combination suction c- 'odu g device and a nozzle elongated inlet mouth surrounded ori -enga ing jaws, of an agitating device comprising a plurality oi teeth projecta direction transverse to the length of sail, mouth adapted to he moved along tne surface operated upon, and means for rai ing said teeth from said surface and prein them the air stream.

in a vacuum cleaner, a nozzle having an elongated inlet itouth surrounded by work-engaging jaws, an agitating device pivoted in said casing upon an axis parallel with said mouth, said device comprising a plurality oi: radial members having flexible teeth projecting substantially tangentially to the cylinder drawn ahout the pivot axis and to engage and comb the surface operated upon, and means for rotating said uevice'ahout its pivot so as to raise said teeth from such surface present thorn to the Q l; 92.1-1

e combination with a vacuum cleaner nozzle having an elongated, downwardly facing inlet mouth, said nozzle having at one side of said mouth a substantially horizontal, smooth bottom wall forming a receiving ledge, of an agitating device pivotedinside said nozzle parallel to said mouth, said device comprising a plurality of radial members hav- 1 teeth at their outer edges adapted to ena the surface operated upon, and means or rotating said device in the direction to move said teeth over the working surface tosaid ledge.

A. In a cleaner, a suction nozzle having elongated inlet mouth surrounded by worlr engaging jaws, and an agitating device rotatahly supported within said casing with its axis parallel to said month said device having a plurality of radiating vanes and also having a plurality of flexible teeth, one

of said jaws being formed with air passagedehouching upon said vanes, there being a' iassageways formed between the lease eac-i vans and the neighboring vanes. 15, a cleaner, suction nozzle having elongated inlet niouth sur ounded by and an device bladesr'e'volve wholly wit in the plane of said mouth, and passageways formed in the walls of the nozzle and admitting air berotatably supported within said casing with its axis parallel to said month, said device having a plurality of radiating vanes, one of said jaws being formed with air passageways debouching upon said vanes, and tangential teeth carried by said agitatingvdevice and facing in the direction toward which the same revolves.

16. In a cleaner, a suction nozzle having an elongated inlet mouthsurrounded by work engaging jaws, a shaft rotatably mounted in said nozzle parallel to said mouth, a plate secured to said shaft near each of its ends, and a plurality of elongated blades or vanes rotatable with said shaft and having their ends pivoted to said plates upon axes parallel to said shaft, said nozzle having air passageways formed in one of its walls arranged to admit air from a region of higher pressure to blow upon the vanes at one side of said shaft.

17. In a'cleaner, a suction nozzle having an elongated inlet mouth surrounded by work-engaging jaws, a shaft rotatably mounted in said nozzle parallel to said mouth, a plate secured to said shaft near each of its ends a pluralityof elongated blades or vanes rotatable withsaid shaft and having their ends pivoted to said plates upon axes parallel to said shaft, and shoulders carried by saidplates and arranged to limit both the inward and the outward movement of said vanes, the wall of said nozzle having air passageways formed in one of its walls arranged to admit air from a region of higher pressure to blow upon the vanes at one side of said shaft.

18. In a cleaner, a suction nozzle having an elongated inlet mouth surrounded by work-engaging jaws, a shaft rotatably mounted in said nozzle parallel to said mouth and having a rigid bearing member secured thereto at each end, blades pivoted to said bearing members parallel to said jaws each of said bearing membershaving abutments whereby the movement of said blades is limited and-the inner edge of each blade being spaced from the edge of the adjacent blades to define a passageway, the position of. said shaft bein such that said neath said shaft. I s

work-engaging jaws, one wall of said nozzle being formed adjacent and substantially parallel to the work-surface so as to form a ledge, and the other jaw having air passageways therein directed toward said ledge, agitating mechanism movably -mounted in said mouth between said jaws, and vanes carried by said mechanism adapted to be moved by the air entering said'passageways.

20. In a cleaner, a suction nozzle having an elongated inlet mouth surrounded by work-engaging jaws, a shaft rotatably mounted in a said nozzle parallel to said mouth and having a rigid bearing member secured thereto at each end, blades pivoted to said bearing member, each of said bearing members having abutments whereby the movement of said blades is limited and the inner edge of each blade being spaced from the edge of the adjacent blades to define a passageway, the position of said shaft being such that said blades revolve wholly within the plane of said mouth and the wall of said nozzle being formed with air admission apertures opening beneath said shaft, andflexible, toothed devicesvrotatable with said blades and adapted to catch adherent refuse and elevate it into the air stream.

21. In a cleaner, in combination, a suction nozzle having an elongated inlet mouth surrounded by work-engaging jaws, one of which is formed to admit air between the same and the work-surface, a rotatable agitating device journaled' within said casing upon an axis substantially parallel with sa d mouth and having vanes exposed to the air entering past said jaw, and means for raising and lowering said nozzle so as to adjust the other jaw with reference to the worksurface.

22. In a collecting nozzle for vacuum cleaners a rotatable shaft journale'd inside the inlet mouth, rigid supporting members carried by said shaft, and a plurahty of longitudinal beating) members pivoted to vsaid supportin mem ers upon axes parallel to but space radially from said shaft, sa1d beating members being curved longitudlnally and the distance of said shaft inside the plane of the inlet mouth being such that said beating memberswill strike and beat a carpet to which the nozzle is' applied.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JAMES B. KIRBY.

'Witnesses:

Hanom E. SMITH, BRENNAN B. Wnsrr. 

